Stockholders' Equity (Schedule of Assumptions Used in Estimate of Fair Value of Stock Option Awards) (Details) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Minimum [Member]
Expected term	6 years	6 years	6 years 3 months 18 days
Estimated volatility	31.50%	31.50%	34.50%
Estimated dividend yield	0.70%	0.70%	1.00%
Risk-free interest rate	2.20%	2.20%	1.70%
Maximum [Member]
Weighted-average grant date market value of Woodward stock	$ 69.45	$ 69.45
Grant date market value of Woodward stock			$ 40.26
Weighted-average exercise price per share	$ 62.64	$ 62.64
Exercise price per share			$ 40.26
Expected term	8 years 8 months 12 days	8 years 8 months 12 days	8 years 8 months 12 days
Estimated volatility	33.70%	33.70%	35.10%
Estimated dividend yield	0.70%	0.70%	1.00%
Risk-free interest rate	2.50%	2.50%	2.00%